The book contributes to the Authority’s anniversary celebration by honoring the organization’s long-standing commitment to protecting its member agencies, their employees and the communities they serve.

Tripepi Smith Director Katherine Griffiths served as lead writer, project manager and creative director while Graphic Designer Kjerstin Nichter executed on the layout and production management.

“This project was special and unique because we had the opportunity to assemble a timeless book that will be a memorable piece,” said Nichter. “I learned more about risk management than I thought possible while also gaining an appreciation for the market need and innovation that drove the creation of the Authority.”

Content development began with a series of staff interviews about topics identified for inclusion in the anniversary book. A template for the body text, chapter headers and milestone timeline, rooted in the California JPIA style guide and accented with custom artwork based on a detail within ironwork on-site at the Authority’s La Palma headquarters, was designed concurrently. Meanwhile, staff dove into their archives to uncover photos of key leadership and special events, original sketches and past newsletters. In-person interviews with sitting Executive Committee members provided a capstone for the process.

“The project was highly collaborative,” said Griffiths. “The California JPIA team was actively engaged throughout the process, from the super-organized initial schedule and content plan developed by Assistant Executive Officer Norm Lefmann to the meticulous proofreading and editing executed by Chief Executive Officer Jon Shull. It was a pleasure not only to learn more about the organization and its history, but also to work with the current staff and to help make their vision a reality—especially in the service of their members.”

“Everyone had their own thumbprint on the making of the book,” confirmed Nichter, “just as they had their own part in the development of the Authority itself.”

The final book was produced in two versions: 500 perfect-bound and 50 hard cover. To coordinate with the California’s JPIA’s color palette, the perfect-bound books featured a forest green Carnival Linen cover and the hard-bound books featured a fern green Arristox Cloth cover; the interior text was produced on a 100# Ultra Print Digital Satin Book stock, with Oatmeal Rainbow Text end sheets. Both books were enhanced with a gold foil stamp of the Authority’s logo, as well as 40th anniversary recognition. Members of the Authority’s Executive Committee received personalized copies of the hard-bound book, featuring engraved brass plaques set into de-bossed windows in the lower-right corner of the front cover.

“In celebration of the Authority’s first 40 years of service to its members, this anniversary book was prepared to honor those individuals and member agencies that founded and guided the organization in its infancy, expanded its programs and services, and charted its course for the future,” said Shull. “This commemorative volume sheds light on our organization’s history, its challenges, and its triumphs. Our member agencies have much to be proud of, and we have only just begun.”

“Tripepi Smith was a strong partner with the Authority in pulling together our history and diving deep to assemble our story. From meticulous project management to shepherding dozens of people and stories together into a single cohesive book, this was a significant effort. But Tripepi Smith delivered,” continued Shull.

This January, the California JPIA Executive Committee selected Tripepi Smith to provide ongoing marketing and communications support services for the Authority.

Of the new engagement, Tripepi Smith President Ryder Todd Smith said, “Katherine will be able to leverage her work on the history project to take the lead on one of our most significant wins. Our future was already bright, and it just got a bit more blinding.”

About the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority

Providing innovative risk management solutions for its public agency partners for more than 40 years, the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (California JPIA) is one of the largest municipal self-insurance pools in the state, with more than 100 member cities and other governmental agencies who actively participate in shaping an organization that provides important coverage for their operations. The California JPIA provides innovative risk management solutions through a comprehensive portfolio of programs and services, including liability, workers’ compensation, pollution, property, and earthquake coverage, as well as risk management training and loss control services.